The average wage for a food preparation worker in Tennessee is around $10.95 per hour.
Avg Wage
Food preparation workers earn an average hourly wage of $10.95.
Salaries typically start from $8.72 per hour and go up to $15.04 per hour.
62% below national average Updated in 2021
Food preparation worker earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:
$15.04 per hour
$31,280 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:
$13.63 per hour
$28,350 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:
$10.95 per hour
$22,780 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:
$9.14 per hour
$19,020 per year
10th percentile
Starting level food preparation worker earnings begin at:
$8.72 per hour
$18,140 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Food preparation worker salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $36,300 |
| District of Columbia | $35,940 |
| California | $31,800 |
| New York | $31,350 |
| Oregon | $31,180 |
| Massachusetts | $31,130 |
| Rhode Island | $30,720 |
| Hawaii | $30,650 |
| Colorado | $30,420 |
| New Hampshire | $30,390 |
| Alaska | $30,310 |
| Maine | $29,910 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $29,650 |
| Arizona | $29,580 |
| Connecticut | $29,570 |
| North Dakota | $29,500 |
| Minnesota | $29,250 |
| Florida | $29,200 |
| Wyoming | $29,200 |
| Vermont | $28,740 |
| New Jersey | $28,700 |
| Maryland | $28,620 |
| Illinois | $28,560 |
| Nevada | $28,350 |
| Texas | $28,350 |
| Nebraska | $28,310 |
| Michigan | $28,140 |
| Delaware | $28,100 |
| Virginia | $27,490 |
| Indiana | $25,100 |
| Montana | $25,100 |
| Wisconsin | $25,010 |
| Georgia | $24,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $24,680 |
| Arkansas | $24,610 |
| Missouri | $24,490 |
| North Carolina | $24,490 |
| Idaho | $24,370 |
| Kansas | $24,360 |
| Ohio | $24,320 |
| South Dakota | $24,230 |
| Oklahoma | $23,970 |
| South Carolina | $23,970 |
| Utah | $23,850 |
| Kentucky | $23,720 |
| Iowa | $23,520 |
| New Mexico | $22,890 |
| West Virginia | $22,870 |
| Tennessee | $22,780 |
| Guam | $20,150 |
| Alabama | $19,050 |
| Louisiana | $18,980 |
| Mississippi | $18,900 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,090 |
How do food preparation worker salaries compare to similar careers?
Food preparation workers earn 10% less than similar careers in Tennessee. On average, they make less than brewmasters but more than food servers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Brewmaster salary | $30K |
| Baker salary | $30K |
| Restaurant cook salary | $29K |
| Bartender salary | $19K |
| Dietetic technician salary | $22K |
| Food preparation worker salary | $23K |
| Maitre d' salary | $22K |
| Food server salary | $18K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)